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More from the High Street

The Gallery is one of a number of independent shops in Reigate to announce its closure recently, after the owners of the cafe called TEA, also in High Street, and Miwk, in Bell Street, also called time on their businesses.

But unlike the common narrative that usually comes with the closures of independents on Surrey's high streets as small businesses struggle to pay the rent, this closure has come as a positive move for Mr Wilson.

He said: "From our point of view it's actually a very positive thing.

"I didn't really want to make a big thing of it, but I moved home last year to the Isle of Wight and not living locally has made it difficult to commute to Reigate.

The Gallery at 82 High Street, Reigate, is closing down (Image: Grant Melton)

"We haven't been run out of business or had any financial troubles or anything, it's just purely the fact that I'm going to have my business closer to home and won't have to travel across the water every week."

If Reigate residents find themselves on the Isle of Wight they will still be able to visit Mr Wilson's new shop, West Wight Framing in Yarnmouth High Street.

He added: "It's not retirement as such but we've moved to a lovely part of the world where we want to spend our later years in a more relaxed setting that makes things easier."

Mr Wilson said he is grateful to the people of Reigate who have supported him.